Apparatus for assembling c-rings on shafts



Sept. 18, 1962 c. E. BOURQUE 3,054,169

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING C-RINGS ON SHAFTS Filed Jan. 20, 1960 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

CHARLES E. BOURQUE zVzzaZz'i/M ATTORNEYS Sept. 18, 1962 C. E BOURQUEAPPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING C-RIN Filed Jan. 20, 1960 GS ON SHAFTS 3Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

INVENTOR.

CHARLES E. BOURQUE BY 3%, *W

ATTORNEYS Sept. 18, 1962 C. E. BOURQUE APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING C-RINGSON SHAFTS Filed Jan. 20, 1960 FIG.4

7( 'M LL' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. CHARLES E. BOURQUE V. ATTORNEYS Uit d States Pate 3,054,169 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING C-RINGS N SHAFTSCharles E. Bourque, Waltham, Mass, assignor to Acton Laboratories, Inc.,Acton, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Jan. 20, 1960, Ser.No. 3,689 8 Claims. (Cl. 29-208) This invention deals with the problemof assembling C-rings on cylindrical shafts.

Heretofore, several devices have been designed to facilitate theapplication of C-rings to shafts. Most of these devices have been in theform of hand tools. These have operated well but are satisfactory onlywhere a low rate of production can be tolerated. Some attempts have beenmade to provide high-speed machines for attaching C-rings to shafts onan automatic basis, but these have been unsatisfactory for variousreasons, including high cost, excessive bulk, unreliability, and lack ofadjustability.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide novelapparatus for assembling C-rings on shafts, said apparatus being capableof relatively high production and free of the disadvantages common toapparatus heretofore available for the same purpose.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the invention becomes better understoodby reference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side View in elevation of a device constructed according tothe present invention for attaching 6- rings to shafts, certain partsbeing broken away for convenience of description;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the ringapplyingmechanism shown at the top right of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of mechanism shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing how the C-rings areassembled on the magazine or supply rod;

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate sequentially how a C-ring is applied to a shaftby means of the reciprocating slide; and

FIG. 8 shows a modified form of slide.

Turning now to FIG. 1, the device comprises a hollow base 2 and aremovable cover 4. The base 2 includes a top wall 6 on which is mounteda solenoid 8 having an armature or plunger 10. The rear end of armature10 is pivotally connected to the top end of an operating rod 12 which ispivotally mounted on a pivot pin 14 secured to a pair of spaced cars 16formed on the underside of top wall 6 (only one ear 16 is visible in thedrawings). Top wall 6 has a relatively large opening 18 located betweencars 16, and rod 12 extends loosely through this opening. The

bottom end of rod 12 is connected to one end of a tension spring 20. Theother end of spring 20 is connected to the head of a bolt 22 which isreleasably anchored in the side wall of base 2. Spring 20 acts to pivotrod 12 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 1).

Also secured to top wall 6 in cantilever fashion isan elongated baseplate 24 which extends forwardly away from base 2 and solenoid 8.Positioned on base plate 24 is an operating slide 26. The slide isretained on base plate 24 by two guide members 28 and 30 which overlieand lightly engage flanges 32 and 34 respectively formed at the oppositesides of slide 26. Guides 28 and 30 are held in place by screws bolts 36(FIGS. 2 and 4).

The slide is operated by solenoid 8. The solenoid arma ice pivotallyconnects ears 42 to armature 10. The opposite end of sleeve 40 isthreaded to receive a headless bolt 46 which extends through anupstanding tongue 48 of a round plug member 50. A collar 52 is mountedon bolt 46. C01- lar 52 is locked in place by a set screw 54 and acts tokeep a nut 55 which is mounted on the outer end of bolt 46 tight againsttongue 48 so that plug member 50 will move back and forth with armature10. Plug member 50 is rotatably seated in a mating cavity formed in thetop side of slide 26. The two pivotal connections between slide 26 andarmature 10 compensate for any misalignment between these two membersand are made permissible by virtue of the fact that the path of movementof the slide is determined solely by guide members 28 and 30 and baseplate 24.

Attached to and extending beyond the forward end of slide 26 is a ringengaging finger 56. The latter is seated in a groove formed on thebottom side of slide 26 and is held in place by a screw 58. Thethickness of finger 56 is a function of the thickness of the C-rings tobe applied by the device; the former can be equal to but preferably issmaller than the latter thickness.

The forward end of base plate 24 is provided with a countersunk hole 60located in the path of movement of slide 26. Force fitted in this holeis a bushing 62. The top end 64 of the bushing is flush with the topsurface of base plate 24, except for a portion 66 which projects abovethe base plate. The outer curved surface of this portion 66 extendsthrough an angle of less than 180 degrees and terminates at a flatvertical face 68. The bushing has a central hole 70 which issubstantially D-shaped. The diameter of hole 70 is larger than theoutside diameter of the shafts which are to be fitted with C-rings. Theflat vertical face 68 has an arcuate groove 72 whose center of curvatureis the same as that of hole 70. However, the radius of curvature ofgroove 72 is less than that of hole 70 and is only slightly larger thanthe outside radius of the shafts which are to be fitted with C-rings.The bottom end of hole 70 is flared as shown so as to facilitateinserting shafts into the bushing.

Mounted on base plate 24 beyond slide 26 is a vertical support 76 to thetop of which is attached a horizontal arm 78. Machine bolt 80 connectssupport 76 to base plate 24, and another machine bolt 82 connects arm 78to support 76. Arm 78 extends over hole 60 in base plate 24 and isprovided with a vertically extending bore 84 in which is slidablymounted a hollow shaft 86. A set screw 88 locks shaft 86 in any selectedlevel. Shaft 86 is in axial alignment with hole 60 and bushing 62.

Shaft 86 comprises a series of successive axially extending bores 90,92, 94, 96, and 98. The bottommost bore 90 has a radius about equal tothe radius of groove 72 of bushing 62. Preferably, the bottom end ofbore 90 is flared as shown to facilitate insertion of a shaft which isto be provided with a C-ring. Bore 92 is substantially smaller indiameter and is just large enough to slidably accommodate a firstvertical rod 100. Bore 94 is slightly larger than bore 92 so as to keepto a minimum the total amount of surface area of rod v that is inphysical contactwith shaft 86. This reduces friction. Bore 96' is largerthan bore 94 and forms with the latter a shoulder or stop 102 for theenlarged head 104 on rod 100. Head 104 projects into bore 98 which isthreaded to receive' a bushing 106. Slidably positioned within bushing106 is an enlarged head portion 108 of a second rod 110. Bushing 106 hasa bottom end wall 112 provided with an opening to accommodate rod 110.End wall 112 functions as a stop or shoulder for the head of rod 110; Anut 1'14 locks the bushing to shaft 86.

The top end of bushing 106 has an annular extension 118 which is forcefitted into a suitable hole formed in the L-shaped bracket 120. A smallswitch 122 is secured to the bracket. Witch 122 is of conventionalconstruction and comprises a button or ball 124 which is held out byaspring member (not shown) contained within the switch housing. When thebutton is forced inwardly, the switch is actuated to closed or openposition. In this case, it is preferred to use a normally open switchwhich is closed when the button is depressed. Button 124 is in positionto be engaged and depressed by the head 108 of rod 110 when the latteris moved upwardly by rod 100. One side of switch 122 is connected by alead wire 126 to one of the terminals of solenoid '8. The other side ofswitch 122 is connected by a lead wire 128 to one side of an on-offswitch 138 mounted in the side wall of base 2. The other side of switch138 and the other terminal of solenoid 8 are connected to leads 140 and142 which are part of a conventional power cord 144. Although not shown,it is to be understood that cord 144 will be provided with a plugwhereby it may be plugged into a wall outlet or other power supplyreceptacle.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, arm 78 also acts as a support for amagazine or supply rod 148. The latter is located between shaft 86 andslide 26 and is tilted so as to bring the bottom end closer to thecenter hole in bushing 62 and to move the top end away from the switch122. The latter makes it easier to add additional rings to the supplyrod which is loaded from the top. The bottom end of rod .148 is spacedfrom the top surface of base plate 24 by an amount greater than thethickness of one but less than the thickness of two C-rings. As shown inFIG. 5, the cross-section shape of rod 148 includes a semicircularportion 152 sized to fit within the semicircular portion of the -ring154. The ends of the C-ring are enlarged inwardly so as to provideshoulders 156 which hold them on the rod. When the rings are stacked onthe supply rod, the bottommost one 158 will drop off of the rod ontobushing 62 to one side of its center hole (see FIG. 6). Thereafter whena shaft 160 which is to be provided with a C-ring is inserted up throughthe bushing into contact with rod 100, the latter will force rod 110upwardly against button 124, closing switch 122. Immediately, solenoid 8will be energized, forcing armature forward toward supply rod 148.Finger 56 will engage the bottommost ring 158 and thrust it forward intoengagement with shaft 160. The ends of the ring will spread just enoughto accept the shaft. FIG. 7 illustrates the position of the C-ring atthe end of the forward stroke of the slide. It is to be noted that inthis figure the extremities of the C-ring are close to and may evenengage lightly the vertical face 68 of the upstanding portion 66 ofbushing 62. Any tendency of the rings to rotate around the shaft 160instead of moving in a straight line toward the shaft is canceled outwhen one or the other end of the C-ring engages the vertical face 68 ofthe bushing.

Movement of the slide is very fast and is barely discernible by thenaked eye. The slide will remain extended so long as the solenoid isenergized. However, as a practical matter, there is a natural tendencyfor the operator to release the upward pressure on rod 100 as soon as hehears the click which results when a ring is snapped onto a shaft.Regardless of the operators speed in inserting and removing a shaft, themachine will apply a ring to each and every shaft that closes switch122.

An important advantage of the invention is provided by making shaft 86adjustable up and down. Since a C-ring must be slipped into a groove ona shaft, as, for example, groove 164 (FIGS. 6 and 7), the shaft must beinserted to the depth necessary to place the groove at the same level asthe bottommost C-ring 158. Otherwise, the ring will not go on the shaft;or, if it does go on, it will be in the wrong location or injured. Withthe present invention it is possible to accommodate shafts of differentlengths or shafts of the same length but with the groove formed at adifferent location. The shaft 86 is set so that when the end of a givenshaft just actuates the switch, the groove on the shaft will be visiblejust above base plate 24.

Since it may be desired to accommodate shafts and rings of various sizesin order to make maximum use of the invention, bushing 62 is removableand may be replaced with a bushing having a smaller or larger internaldiameter. Similarly, the supply rod is removable by means of screws 166and may be replaced by another rod capable of holding smaller or largerC-rings.

It is also contemplated that the finger may be provided withasemicylindrical slot in its leading edge to accommodate the C-ring.This has the advantage of applying pressure to the C-ring at a pluralityof points, thereby eliminating any tendency of the rings to spin out ofor deviate from the desired straight line path.

FIG. 8 illustrates this feature. Here the slide 26 has a finger 56awhose leading edge 170 is slotted to provide a curved constant radiusedge 172 which encompasses an angle of approximately degrees. The radiusof curvature of edge 172 is substantially the same as the outside edgeof the semicylindrical portion 154 (FIGS. 5 and 8) of the 0-ring. Hencethe slot will accommodate a substantial portion of the C-ring and by sodoing will produce a more uniform and accurate transfer of rings fromsupply rod 148 to the shafts 160.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is to be understood,therefore, that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts specifically describedor illustrated, and that within the scope of the appended claims, it maybe practiced otherwise than as specifically described or illustrated.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for applying C-rings to shafts comprising a base plate,means for storing C-rings and for feeding them one at a time to apredetermined position on said base plate, a bushing positioned in ahole in said base plate, said bushing having an opening to accommodateshafts onto which C-rings are to be applied, a slide on said base plate,said slide movable to pick up a C-ring at said predetermined positionand convey it forward into engagement with a shaft which may beprojecting up through said bushing, first electrically actuatable meansoperative to move said slide forward, second means for moving said sliderearward, and third means for actuating said first means, said thirdmeans including an actuatable switch for said first means and a movableelement operative when moved to actuate said actuatable switch, saidmovable element located above said bushing in position to be moved by ashaft projecting up out of said bushing.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said first means is asolenoid, and said element is movable toward and away from said bushing.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said bushing has a projectingflat vertical face at its top end, said face located to limit rotationof a C-ring thrust forward by said slide, whereby to facilitateapplication of said C-ring to a shaft projecting up through saidbushing.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the normal position of saidmovable element is adjustable up and down relative to said bushing,whereby C-rings may be applied at different locations on differentshafts.

5. Apparatus for assembling C-rings on shafts, said apparatus comprisinga base plate, a bushing supported by said base plate having an openingsized to accommodate shafts of a given outside diameter, means forstoring C-rings sized to snap onto said shafts and for feeding saidc-rings one at a time to a predetermined position, a slide mounted onsaid base plate, said slide movable to convey C-rings from saidpredetermined position to said bushing with sufiicient force to snapsaid 0- rings onto shafts which may be projecting up through saidbushing, said slide normally displaced from said predetermined position,first means for moving said slide through said predetermined positiontoward said bushing, whereby to transfer a C-ring from saidpredetermined position onto a shaft projecting up through said bushing,a normally off switch, switch operating means in position to be actuatedby a shaft thrust through said bushing, means controlled by said switchfor operating said first means each time said switch is closed, andmeans for returning said slide to its normal position upon reopening ofsaid switch.

6. Apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein said switch operating meansis movable toward and away from said bushing, whereby C-rings may beapplied at different locations on shafts of the same length.

7. Apparatus for putting C-shaped snap rings on shafts, said apparatuscomprising a horizontal base plate having an aperture through whichshafts to be provided with snap rings may be inserted, a verticallyreciprocal rod located above said base plate in position to be engagedand moved upward by a shaft thrust upward through said aperture, meansfor holding a supply of snap rings and for discharging them one at atime on said base plate at a predetermined position, movable means forremoving a snap ring from said predetermined position and forcing itonto a shaft disposed in said aperture, and means for operating saidmovable means in response to vertical movement of said rod.

8. Apparatus as defined by claim 7 wherein said movable means is a fiatmember slidahly supported on said base, and said last-mentionedoperating means is a solenoid having an energizing circuit whichincludes a control switch that is actuated by said rod during verticalmovement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,775,283 Greer Dec. 25, 1956 20 2,837,812 Erdmann June 10, 19582,895,214 Erdmann July 21, 1959

